The biggest constant in the NFL is that there is nothing consistent in the league.
Week 4 is one sign of that.
That’s not to say that nothing is going according to plan. The Bucs are still on top of the NFC South after downing the Patriots in Tom Brady’s revenge game. The Packers are at the top of the NFC North after steamrolling the Steelers.
But there are a lot of surprises.
The Steelers lost three straight and look to be a bottom feeder. Who would’ve thought it would be them and not the Bengals in last place in the AFC North? The Bengals are 3-1 and are at a three-way tie for first in that division. And in the Rams-Cardinals showdown, the Cardinals claim the title of the NFL’s best team.
And the Jets... won a game?!
Another week of craziness in the NFL, another week of going with the power rankings.
#32: Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 4 @ CIN: L, 21-24 | Record: 0-4
Previous Rank: #31
In his seven years as the head coach of Ohio State, Urban Meyer’s Buckeyes lost nine games. The 2021 Jaguars, at this current rate, are set to surpass that well before Thanksgiving. After blowing a 14-0 halftime lead against the Bengals, The Jaguars sit at 0-4 and have lost 19 consecutive games since the “NOT SATISFIED WITH 1-0” tweet. He called the loss “devastating” and “heartbreaking,” which sends a message that he is not used to losing. However, the Jags played a more competitive brand of football than we saw in the first three weeks, but Monday brought on more drama, as Meyer was forced to address a viral video showing a woman dancing close to his lap in a bar at Columbus, Ohio. They had 2nd half leads against the Cardinals and Bengals in the past two weeks, but they will have five straight games against teams that won at least 10 games last season, so it’s hard to see where the first win will come. The post-merger NFL-record 26-game losing streak may be brought up soon enough.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Trevor Lawrence
RB: James Robinson, Tavon Auston (RB/WR)
WR: Marvin Jones Jr., Laviska Shenault Jr.
TE: Dan Arnold
OL: Cam Robinson (LT), Andrew Norwell (LG), Brandon Linder (C), Ben Bartch (RG), Jawaan Taylor (RT)
DL: Malcom Brown (LDE), DaVon Hamilton (NT), Roy Robertson-Harris (RDE)
EDGE: Josh Allen (WLB), K’Lavon Chaisson (SLB)
ILB: Damien Wilson (LILB), Myles Jack (RILB)
CB: Tyson Campbell (LCB), Shaquill Griffin (RCB)
S: Andrew Wingard (SS), Rayshawn Jenkins (FS)
ST: Josh Lambo (K), Logan Cooke (P), Ross Matiscik (LS)
RS: Jamal Agnew
#31: Houston Texans
Week 4 @ BUF: L, 0-40 | Record: 1-3
Previous Rank: #28
It’s not news that the Texans are a mess. Everyone expected them to struggle in 2021. But they played hard in the first three weeks of the season. However, in Week 4, when they stepped foot in Buffalo, everything fell apart. The 40-0 shutout loss makes you wonder how many more times David Culley’s team will taste victory before the end of the season. They really need Tyrod Taylor back, and desperately. Davis Mills is simply not ready to face NFL competition. During the game, he completed 15 of 21 passes—four to the other team. He had just 87 passing yards that accounted for most of the Texans’ 109 total yards. It was so bad that they had less total yards than Stefon Diggs had receiving yards (114) in this game. The defense was atrocious, as they gave up 450 yards, and, over the next six weeks, they could realistically go 1-8. The only positive from this week is that they are no longer the biggest dumpster fire in the division.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Davis Mills
RB: Mark Ingram
WR: Brandin Cooks, Chris Conley, Danny Amendola
TE: Pharaoh Brown
OL: Laremy Tunsil (LT), Tytus Howard (LG), Justin Britt (C), Max Scharping (RG), Marcus Cannon (RT)
DE: Whitney Mercilus (LDE), Jordan Jenkins (RDE)
DT: Maliek Collins (LDT), DeMarcus Walker (RDT)
LB: Zach Cunningham (WLB), Christian Kirksey (MLB), Joe Thomas (SLB)
CB: Vernon Hargreaves III (LCB), Terrance Mitchell (RCB)
S: Eric Murray (SS), Justin Reid (FS)
ST: Ka’imi Fairbairn (K), Cameron Johnston (P), Jon Weeks (LS)
RS: Andre Roberts
#30: Detroit Lions
Week 4 @ CHI: L, 14-24 | Record: 0-4
Previous Rank: #29
A lot has changed in Detroit this season. They have a new QB in Jared Goff and a new coach in Dan Campbell. But the more things change, the more they stay the same. The Lions are still terrible. Facing a Bears team that had fewer than 100 total yards last week, they allowed 24 points and 373 yards. They could not stop the run, giving up 188 yards and almost 5 yards per carry. There doesn’t appear that there would be a light at the end of the tunnel. After getting robbed of a win against the Ravens, they were flat against the Bears. They were sloppy, ugly, and injured. Campbell continues to be very aggressive on 4th down, even though it usually is not working out for them, as they were 1 of 3 against the Bears. The offense is okay at best, but the defense still remains dead last in the league. It’s not helping that Romeo Okwara, their best defensive player, is done for the year with a torn Achilles tendon. It’s the same devastating injury that prematurely ended Jeff Okudah’s second season. Now they are the lone winless team in the NFC, and Campbell has to keep the Lions from staying as the Eeyore of the NFL.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
RB: D’Andre Swift
WR: Quintez Cephus, Kalif Raymond, Amon-Ra St. Brown
TE: TJ Hockenson
OL: Penei Sewell (LT), Jonah Jenkins (LG), Evan Brown (C), Halapoulivaati Vaitai (RG), Matt Nelson (RT)
DL: Michael Brockers (LDE), Alim McNeill (NT), Nick Williams (RDE)
EDGE: Trey Flowers (WLB), Austin Bryant (SLB)
ILB: Alex Anzalone (LILB), Derrick Barnes (RILB)
CB: Amani Oruwariye (LCB), Bobby Price (RCB)
S: Will Harris (SS), Tracy Walker III (FS)
ST: Austin Seibert (K), Jack Fox (P), Scott Daly (LS)
RS: Kalif Raymond
#29: New York Jets
Week 4 vs. TEN: W, 27-24 (OT) | Record: 1-3
Previous Rank: #32
The first three starts of Zach Wilson’s NFL career were a nightmare. He entered Week 4 averaging less than 210 passing yards per game with two touchdowns and a staggering 7 interceptions and sacked an eye-popping 15 times. The Jets are still not a good team, but after stunning the Titans in overtime, they are winless no more, and Wilson played a huge role in the win. Against a Titans secondary that struggled dating back to 2020, he finally looked like the 2nd overall pick he was hyped up to be: 297 passing yards, two touchdowns, and a 97.3 passer rating. What stood out is his pass to Corey Davis downfield with the game tied at 17 with the QB rolling to the right on a naked bootleg. Wilson, seeing that the Titans deep safety was out of positioned, motioned to his wide receiver to go deep, then delivered a perfect 53-yard touchdown bomb. That play showed his improvisational skill and his arm strength, and instantly filled Jets fans with optimism. He also led a long drive to kick off the extra frame that resulted in Matt Ammendola’s game-winning field goal. The defense deserves credit, too. While Gang Green gave up a big game to Derrick Henry and allowed 430 total yards, they were all over Ryan Tannehill, sacking him seven times. With the Falcons on the doorstep before an early-season bye, there might be more hope to the Jets than originally thought.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Zach Wilson
RB: Tevin Coleman
WR: Corey Davis, Jamison Crowder, Elijah Moore
TE: Ryan Griffin
OL: George Fant (LT), Alijah Vera-Tucker (LG), Connor McGovern (C), Greg Van Roten (RG), Morgan Moses (RT)
DE: John Franklin-Myers (LDE), Bryce Huff (RDE)
DT: Sheldon Rankins (LDT), Quinnen Williams (RDT)
LB: Jamien Sherwood (WLB), CJ Mosley (MLB), Quincy Williams (SLB)
CB: Brandin Echols (LCB), Bryce Hall (RCB)
S: Ashtyn Davis (SS), Jarrod Wilson (FS)
ST: Matt Ammendola (K), Thomas Morstead (P), Thomas Hennessy (LS)
RS: Braxton Berrios
#28: Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 4 @ GB: L, 17-27 | Record: 1-3
Previous Rank: #22
I never thought I would see the day where I would put the Steelers this low in the power rankings. There is a first for such things. In short, this team is officially in shambles. Just when you thought the offense can’t get any worse, Mike Tomlin says that Ben Roethlisberger is still their best QB to run it. It’s damning that he is the best option on the team, and neither Mason Rudolph nor Dwayne Haskins can turn the team around in an instant. Big Ben overthrew JuJu Smith-Schuster twice on potential touchdown passes, and for every time he took a beating, Father Time keeps knocking on his doorstep. Najee Harris still has no holes to run through behind that terrible O-line. The play calling is not that of a Matt Canada offense, but rather that of a Roethlisberger offense. Big Ben has too much power and influence within the organization that it’s getting too damaging. The pre-snap motion, play action, and end around plays that are in Canada’s play calling schemes were overruled by Big Ben’s play calls that involve none of that. The secondary is struggling to generate takeaways, and the front seven can only do so much. The problems run deep within the organization, and as they sit at 1-3, with the other three AFC North teams at 3-1, they may be bound for their first losing season since 2003. Picture it as if the Steelers are Master Splinter and the Bengals, Browns, and Ravens are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Ninja Turtles have officially grown up.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Ben Roethlisberger
RB: Najee Harris
WR: Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, JuJu Smith-Schuster
TE: Pat Freiermuth
OL: Dan Moore Jr. (LT), Kevin Dotson (LG), Kendrick Green (C), Trai Turner (RG), Chukwuma Okorafor (RT)
DL: Chris Wormley (LDE), Isaiah Buggs (NT), Cameron Heyward (RDE)
EDGE: TJ Watt (WLB), Alex Highsmith (SLB)
ILB: Devin Bush Jr. (LILB), Joe Schobert (RILB)
CB: Joe Haden (LCB), James Pierre (RCB)
S: Terrell Edmunds (SS), Minkah Fitzpatrick (FS)
ST: Chris Boswell (K), Pressley Harvin III (P), Christian Kuntz (LS)
RS: Ray-Ray McCloud
#27: Chicago Bears
Week 4 vs. DET: W, 24-14 | Record: 2-2
Previous Rank: #25
To say that Justin Fields is having a rocky NFL debut is an understatement. Against the Browns, the Bears had just one net passing yard. For the entire game. While things went better in his first career start at Soldier Field, he didn’t really throw the ball all that well, with just 11 completions in 17 attempts for 209 yards with an interception and a passer rating of 82.7. However, they did get things going (188 rushing yards), the Bears moved the pocket, and Fields made plays when needed. They scored on a pair of David Montgomery touchdown runs in each of their first two possessions on the way to a 24-14 win over the Lions. The O-line did much better protecting the rookie, which is funny on how it works when it’s not Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney tormenting the O-line. What is notable is the schematic shift for the Bears, where offensive coordinator Bill Lazor took over the play calling duties to positive results. Now, how do they go down two spots and not go up the rankings? Montgomery and Damien Williams left the game with injuries. Montgomery is out for Week 5 because of a knee injury and Williams’ status is in question with a quad injury. While Matt Nagy continued to insist that Andy Dalton would be the starter when he comes back healthy, that plan was ditched and Fields is now the permanent starter. And lastly, their next six games will be against teams that are playoff contenders this season or against teams that made the playoffs last season.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Justin Fields
RB: Khalil Herbert
WR: Allen Robinson II, Darnell Mooney, Marquise Goodwin
TE: Cole Kmet
OL: Jason Peters (LT), Cody Whitehair (LG), Sam Mustipher (C), James Daniels (RG), Germain Ifedi (RT)
DL: Akiem Hicks (LDE), Eddie Goldman (NT), Bilal Nichols (RDE)
EDGE: Khalil Mack (WLB), Robert Quinn (SLB)
ILB: Roquan Smith (LILB), Alec Ogletree (RILB)
CB: Jaylon Johnson (LCB), Kindle Vildor (RCB)
S: Tashaun Gipson Sr. (SS), Eddie Jackson FS)
ST: Cairo Santos (K), Pat O’Donnell (P), Patrick Scales (LS)
RS: Khalil Herbert (KR), Jakeem Grant (PR)
#26: Miami Dolphins
Week 4 vs. IND: L, 17-27 | Record: 1-3
Previous Rank: #21
This was supposed to be the year the Dolphins were going to get everything together and be a playoff contender in the AFC. Four games into the season, the truth may be coming out: The Dolphins drastically overachieved last season. They welcomed a winless Colts team into their building and were thoroughly outplayed in all three facets in a 27-17 loss. Now having lost three straight since their season-opening win in Foxborough, they have been outscored 62-17 in two home losses. Ever since Tua Tagovailoa’s injury, the offense imploded. Jacoby Brissett managed just 199 passing yards, and most of that came when the game was already decided. With Brissett unable to move the ball through the air, opponents were eyeing the run game, and it was effectively shut down as they only got 35 yards on the ground. Now that Will Fuller is on the IR, it doesn’t get much promising as they face Tom Brady and the Buccaneers next. And whatever is going on with the supposedly talented defense the Fins have has been really discouraging. If this is not a cause for concern, I don’t know what it is.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Jacoby Brissett
RB: Malcolm Brown
WR: DeVante Parker, Jaylen Waddle, Albert Wilson
TE: Mike Gesicki
OL: Austin Jackson (LT), Solomon Kindley (LG), Greg Mancz (C), Robert Hunt (RG), Jesse Davis (RT)
DL: Christian Wilkins (LDL), Emmanuel Ogbah (RDL)
EDGE: Andrew Van Ginkel (WLB), Brennan Scarlett (SLB)
ILB: Elandon Roberts (LILB), Jerome Baker (RILB)
CB: Xavien Howard (LCB), Byron Jones (RCB), Justin Coleman (NB)
S: Eric Rowe (SS), Jason McCourty (FS)
ST: Jason Sanders (K), Michael Palardy (P), Blake Ferguson (LS)
RS: Jaylen Waddle
#25: New York Giants
Week 4 @ NO: W, 27-21 (OT) | Record: 1-3
Previous Rank: #30
After an extremely painful loss to Washington in Week 2 and giving a game away in Week 3 to the Falcons, the Giants looked to be one of the worst teams in the NFL. That same Giants team finally got a tight game going their favor against the Saints despite being shorthanded at wide receiver. The duo of Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley performed like young stars in the stunning 27-21 OT win. Jones threw for a career-high 402 yards and, while he threw his first interception of the season, he was confident in leading the offense, while Barkley had 126 total yards on 18 touches and two scores, including the game-winner in OT, and looked very much like the player who dominated the NFL for stretches before tearing his ACL last September. The Giants could be on to something, as Jones told reporters after the game that it was too good to get over the hump. While he isn’t a Pro Bowl candidate, he has made progress and is less sloppy with the ball. He and the offense should only get better from here on out as they spend more time together on and off the field. They may have put themselves in a hole with that 0-3 start, but they do have the ability to get hot in an always wide open NFC East. However, one win should not take the pressure off of offensive coordinator Jason Garrett to design more creative plays for Jones as the Giants are going to enter a brutal stretch of games, starting with the surging Cowboys.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Daniel Jones
RB: Saquon Barkley
WR: Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard, Kadarius Toney
TE: Evan Engram
OL: Andrew Thomas (LT), Ben Bredeson (LG), Billy Price (C), Will Hernandez (RG), Nate Solder (RT)
DL: Dexter Lawrence (LDE), Austin Johnson (NT), Leonard Williams (RDE)
EDGE: Lorenzo Carter (WLB), Oshane Ximines (SLB)
ILB: Tae Crowder (LILB), Reggie Ragland (RILB)
CB: James Bradberry (LCB), Adoree’ Jackson (RCB)
S: Jabrill Peppers (SS), Logan Ryan (FS)
ST: Graham Gano (K), Riley Dixon (P), Casey Kreiter (LS)
RS: CJ Board (KR), Jabrill Peppers (PR)
#24: Atlanta Falcons
Week 4 vs. WSH: L, 30-34 | Record: 1-3
Previous Rank: #27
Last week, the Falcons took time away from losing to snag a win in New York over the Giants. At home in Week 4, it was time to get back to work. If there is good news, it’s that the offense got on track, scoring 30 points after averaging 16 points per game over the first three weeks of the season, and Matt Ryan threw four touchdown passes without an interception. The defense, on the other hand, is a different story. They continued to struggle, giving up at least 30 points for the 3rd time in four games. Unsurprisingly, it was all in Falcons losses. This time around, the Falcons had a 30-22 lead over Washington with less than 10 minutes left to play. Had they closed out, they would have headed to London with a chance to move to .500 with a win over the Jets. Unfortunately, it’s the same old Falcons narrative: Another blown lead. They gave up two touchdowns with the offense unable to answer back in the 34-30 loss. However, who would’ve thought that Cordarrelle Patterson would be the focal point of the offense? His 354 yards from scrimmage is putting him on pace to set a career high by Week 8. It’s a good story, but it’s leaving Falcons fans wondering what is happening to the promise of an offense built around Calvin Ridley and Kyle Pitts. Head coach Arthur Smith spoke to reporters and lamented on the team’s inability to get the stop that would have put the game away. It won’t be his last lamentation of the season.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Matt Ryan
RB: Mike Davis, Cordarrelle Patterson (RB/WR)
WR: Olamide Zaccheaus
TE: Kyle Pitts, Hayden Hurst
OL: Jake Matthews (LT), Jalen Mayfield (LG), Matt Hennessy (C), Chris Lindstrom (RG), Kaleb McGary (RT)
DL: Jonathan Bullard (LDE), Tyeler Davison (NT), Grady Jarrett (RDT)
EDGE: Steven Means (WLB), Dante Fowler Jr. (SLB)
ILB: Deion Jones (LILB), Foyesade Oluokun (RILB)
CB: AJ Terrell (LCB), Fabian Moreau (RCB)
S: Duron Harmon (SS), Erik Harris (FS)
ST: Younghoe Koo (K), Dustin Colquitt (P), Josh Harris (LS)
RS: Cordarrelle Patterson (KR), Avery Williams (PR)
#23: Philadelphia Eagles
Week 4 vs. KC: L, 30-42 | Record: 1-3
Previous Rank: #24
In Week 1, the Eagles blasted the Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Things went downhill ever since. They had over 450 yards of offense against the Chiefs, with Jalen Hurts throwing for a career-high 387 yards, and never had to send the punting unit on the field. It was another promising effort from the offense, but it was another one of those games where it was filled with errors that doomed them to their 3rd straight loss. They had three touchdowns wiped away because of penalties in drives that eventually ended in field goals. Longtime NFL personnel man Mike Lombardi calls those instances “four-point plays” for the number of points left on the field by trading a touchdown and PAT for a field goal. So, the Eagles had three such “four-point plays” in a game that they lost by 12 which, without those penalties, the game would have headed to overtime tied at 42. Defensively, they gave up 471 yards and 42 points to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, marking it the second straight game the Eagles defense gave up over 40 points after giving up 41 to Dak Prescott and the Cowboys. They were also 3 of 6 in the red zone. All those mistakes didn’t sit well with first-year head coach Nick Sirianni, who told reporters, “The self-inflicted wounds have got to stop.” A Week 5 trip to Charlotte looms large, and it’s not going to get easy when they face a Panthers team that recently added Stephon Gilmore to their secondary. After that, they host the defending champion Buccaneers before a trip to Vegas. 1-3 could become 1-6, realistically.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Jalen Hurts
RB: Miles Sanders
WR: DeVonta Smith, Jalen Reagor, Quez Watkins
TE: Dallas Goedert
OL: Jordan Mailata (LT), Landon Dickerson (LG), Jason Kelce (C), Nate Herbig (RG), Lane Johnson (RT)
DE: Josh Sweat (LDE), Derek Barnett (RDE)
DT: Javon Hargrave (LDT), Fletcher Cox (RDT)
LB: Alex Singleton (WLB), Eric Wilson (MLB), Genard Avery (SLB)
CB: Darius Slay Jr. (LCB), Steven Nelson (RCB)
S: Rodney McLeod Jr. (SS), Anthony Harris (FS)
ST: Jake Elliott (K), Arryn Siposs (P), Rick Lovato (FS)
RS: Kenneth Gainwell (KR), Jalen Reagor (PR)
#22: Minnesota Vikings
Week 4 vs. CLE: L, 7-14 | Record: 1-3
Previous Rank: #18
After losing consecutive games by four points in the first two weeks, the Vikings appeared to have figured something out when they scored 23 unanswered points against the Seahawks in Week 3. It held true on the opening drive of their Week 4 game against the Browns when they drove the length of the field with ease and got the ball in the end zone. Or so they thought. That touchdown was the only points the Vikings scored that game, and now they find themselves at 1-3 and are scrambling to keep the season in control. They had 11 possessions after the touchdown drive without a score. Kirk Cousins was knocked off his comfort zone with a consistent pass rush and Dalvin Cook spent more time on the sidelines with ankle issues. Cousins entered the game ranking in the top 4 in QBR, QB rating, and PFF grade, but the downturn for the Vikings was a result of poor O-line play, leading to the Browns’ D-line dominating again. The Vikings excel in outside zone, which sets up their offensive structure. Defenders in the backfield against the run and collapsing the pocket disrupts the scheme. Things seemed to be on the verge of implosion for the Vikings since, despite facing the Lions in Week 5, they will go on a six-game stretch against the Panthers, Cowboys, Ravens, Chargers, Packers, and 49ers. They still have what it takes to be a playoff team, but a 1-3 start is putting them between a rock and a hard place. If they can’t get any sort of consistency, the playoffs may be out of the question.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Kirk Cousins
RB: Alexander Mattison
WR: Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, KJ Osborn
TE: Tyler Conklin
OL: Rashod Hill (LT), Ezra Cleveland (LG), Garrett Bradbury (C), Oli Udoh (RG), Brian O’Neill (RT)
DE: Danielle Hunter (LDE), DJ Wonnum (RDE)
DT: Michael Pierce (LDT), Dalvin Tomlinson (RDT)
LB: Nick Vigil (WLB), Eric Kendricks (MLB), Anthony Barr (SLB)
CB: Bashaud Breeland (LCB), Patrick Peterson (RCB)
S: Harrison Smith (SS), Xavier Woods (FS)
ST: Greg Joseph (K), Jordan Berry (P), Andrew DePaola (LS)
RS: KJ Osborn (KR), Dede Westbrook (PR)
#21: Indianapolis Colts
Week 4 @ MIA: W, 27-17 | Record: 1-3
Previous Rank: #26
The Colts have little to cheer about over an 0-3 start. But they have a few reasons to smile after a 10-point win over the Dolphins. They were the superior team in all three facets of the game and got breakout games from Jonathan Taylor (103 yards, one touchdown) and Mo Alie-Cox (two touchdowns). Carson Wentz played his best game since joining the Colts. The numbers weren’t eye-popping, as he had 228 yards and two touchdowns on 24 of 32 passing. But he didn’t throw a pick and had a passer rating of 115.1. Beating a Dolphins team whose offense has fallen off a cliff since Tua Tagovailoa fell down won’t fix all the problems with the Colts. But given what is happening with the AFC South, the Colts are just one game back from the “division-leading” Titans ahead of the Colts’ trip to Baltimore. The AFC South is one of the worst, if not the worst, divisions in the league, and nobody is running away with the division. The Colts also have to consider that they will lose a first round pick if and/or when Wentz plays over 75% of the snaps this season. There may be hope, though, as long as they keep in track, and if they do, the season might not be a lost cause by Halloween.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Carson Wentz
RB: Jonathan Taylor
WR: Michael Pittman Jr., Parris Campbell, Zach Pascal
TE: Jack Doyle
OL: Eric Fisher (LT), Chris Reed (LG), Ryan Kelly (C), Mark Glowinski (RG), Braden Smith (RT)
DE: Kwity Paye (LDE), Al-Quadin Muhammad (RDE)
DT: DeForest Buckner (LDT), Grover Stewart (RDT)
LB: Darius Leonard (LILB), Bobby Okereke (RILB)
CB: Rock Ya-Sin (LCB), Xavier Rhodes (RCB), Kenny Moore II (NB)
S: Khari Willis (SS), Julian Blackmon (FS)
ST: Rodrigo Blankenship (K), Rigoberto Sanchez (P), Luke Rhodes (LS)
RS: Isaiah Rodgers (KR), Nyheim Hines (PR)
#20: Washington Football Team
Week 4 @ ATL: W, 34-30 | Record: 2-2
Previous Rank: #23
With every passing week, Taylor Heinicke is proving that he is deserving of Washington’s starting quarterback job regardless of Ryan Fitzpatrick’s availability. He led Washington to back-to-back touchdown drives in the 4th quarter against the Falcons, turning a 30-22 deficit into a 34-30 win. He was sharp, passing for 290 yards and three touchdowns with a passer rating of 127.1. Terry McLaurin had a huge game, catching 6 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns. However, Washington’s supposedly elite defense made one of their disappearing acts once again, giving up 374 yards and allowed at least 29 points for the 3rd time in four games. Chase Young is still looking for his first sack of the season. Basically, Heinicke has been keeping Washington afloat through four weeks and has kept the offense in games, putting them in position to win games. However, if the Cowboys are beginning to run away with the division, would it make sense to stick with Heinicke if he keeps making Fitzpatrick-esque plays like the game-winning touchdown pass to JD McKissic? With that in mind, Washington is, at best, second-fiddle in the division to the Cowboys.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Taylor Heinicke
RB: Antonio Gibson
WR: Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, Adam Humphries
TE: Logan Thomas
OL: Charles Leno Jr. (LT), Ereck Flowers (LG), Chase Roullier (C), Brandon Scherff (RG), Sam Cosmi (RT)
DE: Chase Young (LDE), Montez Sweat (RDE)
DT: Da’Ron Payne (LDT), Jonathan Allen (RDT)
LB: Cole Holcomb (WLB), Jamin Davis (MLB), Jon Bostic (SLB)
CB: Kendall Fuller (LCB), William Jackson III (RCB)
S: Landon Collins (SS), Kamren Curl (FS)
ST: Dustin Hopkins (K), Tress Way (P), Camaron Cheeseman (LS)
RS: DeAndre Carter
#19: New England Patriots
Week 4 vs. TB: L, 17-19 | Record: 1-3
Previous Rank: #20
The ironic part of the Patriots’ 19-17 loss to the Buccaneers is that Bill Belichick would never have settled for that 56-yard field goal try in the rain if Tom Brady was still his quarterback. Give credit to Mac Jones, who, while facing one of the league’s best defenses, held his own, with 275 passing yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 101.6. After the game, while Jones said that he believes that the team is heading towards the right direction. However, gaining Belichick’s trust in game-deciding moments remains a work in progress. So, facing 4th & 3 from the Bucs’ 37, Belichick sent out Nick Folk, who doinked the ball off the left upright. It was a hard ending in which the Pats defense didn’t surrender a touchdown pass to Brady and held the Bucs to their lowest point total of the season. Still, Brady’s team found a way to in in Foxborough… with a twist. In Weeks 5 and 7, the Pats face the Texans and Jets, respectively, but those two games are sandwiched around a home game against the Cowboys, which is… less than ideal. So, it is time for Josh McDaniels to open up the playbook for Jones to find if the Pats have a real downfield passing game. Also, how will the secondary be affected now that Stephon Gilmore is no longer with them?
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Mac Jones
RB: Damien Harris
WR: Nelson Agholor, Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne
TE: Hunter Henry
OL: Isaiah Wynn (LT), Ted Karras (LG), David Andrews (C), Shaq Mason (RG), Justin Herron (RT)
DE: Deatrich Wise Jr. (LDE), Chase Winovich (RDE)
DT: Lawrence Guy (LDT), Davon Godchaux (RDT)
LB: Matt Judon (WLB), Dont’a Hightower (MLB), Kyle Van Noy (SLB)
CB: JC Jackson (LCB), Jalen Mills (RCB)
S: Adrian Phillips (SS), Devin McCourty (FS)
ST: Nick Folk (K), Jake Bailey (P), Joe Cardona (LS)
RS: Gunner Olszewski
#18: Tennessee Titans
Week 4 @ NYJ: L, 24-27 (OT) | Record: 2-2
Previous Rank: #14
Yes, the Titans were playing without AJ Brown and Julio Jones, but that is NOT an excuse for why they lost in epic fashion to the previously winless Jets. While they still remain first in an AFC South that is looking more woeful every passing week, it’s impossible to imagine them as a legit threat. The absence of Brown and Jones had less to do with Ryan Tannehill’s struggles than an O-line failing to protect him, allowing seven sacks and countless pressures in the process. The defense was endlessly victimized by Zach Wilson on multiple deep strikes as the pass rush continues to be awful and the secondary allowed almost 300 passing yards to a QB who has struggled in his first three games of his career. After scoring 20 points in their first 3 games combined, the Jets had 27 on the board against the Titans. Randy Bullock also missed a potential game-tying field goal in the loss. They can’t move the ball on a consistent basis without continuously feeding Derrick Henry. If these struggles continue, even against bad teams, they’re going to make teams as bad as the Jets look like the Chargers. It’s these kinds of performances that send teams plummeting down the power rankings, and it’s these kinds of losses that can come back and haunt them in a big way.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Ryan Tannehill
RB: Derrick Henry
WR: AJ Brown, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Josh Reynolds
TE: Anthony Firkser
OL: Taylor Lewan (LT), Aaron Brewer (LG), Ben Jones (C), Nate Davis (RG), David Quessenberry (RT)
DL: Jeffery Simmons (LDE), Teair Tart (NT), Denico Autry (RDE)
EDGE: Harold Landry (WLB), Bud Dupree (SLB)
ILB: Jayon Brown (LILB), Rashaan Evans (RILB)
CB: Janoris Jenkins (LCB), Kristian Fulton (RCB)
S: Dane Cruikshank (SS), Kevin Byard (FS)
ST: Randy Bullock (K), Brett Kern (P), Morgan Cox (LS)
RS: Cameron Batson (KR), Chester Rogers (PR)
#17: New Orleans Saints
Week 4 vs. NYG: L, 21-27 (OT) | Record: 2-2
Previous Rank: #16
What even are the Saints? This is a fair question to ask after a 2-2 start where they alternated between looking like legit contenders and a team that looks more of a conference also-ran. There was a bit of both when they played the Giants. They jumped out to a 21-10 lead behind a pair of touchdown runs from Taysom Hill, but the offense froze when the defense faltered in crunch time. The Saints gave up 11 unanswered points to close out the 4th quarter, and then allowed the Giants to go down the field for the game-winning touchdown on the first drive of overtime. The offense held up on its own end, though, as Jameis Winston avoided turning over the ball, and Alvin Kamara rushed for 120 yards on 26 carries. However, one of Hill’s three pass attempts was picked off. The surprise was the defense. After an excellent performance against the Pats, they were gashed for 485 yards by the Giants. No team in the league is as inconsistent as the Saints, who have two 15+ wins, a three-score loss, and a defeat at the hands of a previously winless Giants. That shouldn’t be surprising, given that Winston hasn’t been a consistent QB, and he has ran into trouble without Michael Thomas and Terron Armstead. They have enough talent to get by with a great head coach, but they don’t have enough to be a playoff contender.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Jameis Winston
RB: Alvin Kamara
WR: Marquez Callaway, Deonte Harris, Kenny Stills
TE: Adam Trautman
OL: James Hurst (LT), Andrus Peat (LG), Cesar Ruiz (C), Claivn Throckmorton (RG), Ryan Ramczyk (RT)
DE: Cameron Jordan (LDE), Tanoh Kpassagnon (RDE)
DT: Christian Ringo (LDT), Shy Tuttle (RDT)
LB: Pete Werner (LILB), Demario Davis (RILB)
CB: Paulson Adebo (LCB), Marshon Lattimore (RCB), Bradley Roby (NB)
S: Malcolm Jenkins (SS), Marcus Williams (FS)
ST: Cody Parkey (K), Blake Gillikin (P), Zach Wood (LS)
RS: Deonte Harris
#16: Denver Broncos
Week 4 vs. BAL: L, 7-23 | Record: 3-1
Previous Rank: #13
The Broncos’ game against the Ravens is not going to convince doubters that the 3-0 start was more about who the Broncos are than who they played. A loss was bound to happen sooner than later. After games against three teams that were a combined 0-9 entering Week 4, the Broncos had their first true test of the season, and they got served a reality check. Both Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock struggled to move the offense, with both QBs completing half of their pass attempts and gained less than 150 net passing yards while managing 254 total yards. Vic Fangio’s gameplan to contain the Ravens’ run game backfired as Lamar Jackson threw for over 300 yards. Even worse, Bridgewater exited the game with a concussion. When Lock took over, he was not able to produce a single point as Broncos fans were jeering him. As Bridgewater is on the concussion protocol, his Week 5 status is uncertain. Despite facing a 1-3 Steelers team on the road, the Broncos could have an uphill climb. And it’s not good considering Bridgewater and Russell Wilson are the only QBs in the league with at least five touchdown passes and no interceptions. The margin for error here is already small. However, sources say that Bridgewater is “progressing well” and may have a chance to play.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Teddy Bridgewater
RB: Melvin Gordon III
WR: Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, Diontae Spencer
TE: Noah Fant
OL: Garett Bolles (LT), Dalton Risner (LG), Lloyd Cushenberry III (C), Graham Glasgow (RG), Bobby Massie (RT)
DL: Dre’Mont Jones (LDE), Mike Purcell (NT), Shelby Harris (RDE)
EDGE: Malik Reed (WLB), Von Miller (SLB)
ILB: AJ Johnson (LILB), Justin Strnad (RILB)
CB: Kyle Fuller (LCB), Pat Surtain II (RCB)
S: Kareem Jackson (SS), Justin Simmons (FS)
ST: Brandon McManus (K), Sam Martin (P), Jacob Bobenmoyer (LS)
RS: Diontae Spencer
#15: San Francisco 49ers
Week 4 vs. SEA: L, 21-28 | Record: 2-2
Previous Rank: #9
Another year, another Jimmy Garoppolo injury. This time, it’s a calf contusion, and Kyle Shanahan will once again spend the week answering questions about the quarterback situation. That means the Trey Lance era has arrived at San Fran, whether the Niners like it or not. The 3rd overall pick of the Draft saw his most extensive playing time in Week 4. There were mixed results, but there was some promise: 9 completions on 18 attempts for 157 yards and two touchdowns. It was an uneven performance against the Seahawks, but his athleticism and playmaking ability might be the Niners’ best shot, with a showdown against Kyler Murray and the Cardinals next on their schedule. The offense seems stuck in a rut with Garoppolo under center, which remained the case in Jimmy G’s two quarters against a Seahawks defense that has been a swinging door in terms of yardage and points. We know that eventually, Lance would be the Niners starter, but does Kyle Shanahan have a point in saying that he wasn’t ready just yet? With Garoppolo set to miss a few weeks, if Shanahan decides to make the switch, Lance will now have a chance to work his magic. The Niners’ Week 5 game against the Cardinals is a big game for the division race now.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Trey Lance
RB: Elijah Mitchell
WR: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Mohamed Sanu Sr.
TE: George Kittle
OL: Trent Williams (LT), Laken Tomlinson (LG), Alex Mack (C), Daniel Brunskill (RG), Mike McGlinchey (RT)
DE: Arik Armstead (LDE), Nick Bosa (RDE)
DT: Javon Kinlaw (LDT), DJ Jones (RDT)
LB: Fred Warner (LILB), Azeez Al-Shaair (RILB)
CB: Emmanuel Moseley (LCB), Deommodore Lenoir (RCB), K’Waun Williams (NB)
S: Jaquiski Tartt (SS), Jimmie Ward (FS)
ST: Joey Slye (K), Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Taybor Pepper (LS)
RS: Elijah Mitchell (KR), Brandon Aiyuk (PR)
#14: Cincinnati Bengals
Week 4 vs. JAX: W, 24-21 | Record: 3-1
Previous Rank: #19
The Bengals are tied for 1st in the AFC North, and Joe Burrow truly looks like the QB of the franchise now. While it appeared that the Bungles were going to resurface against the Jags, trailing 14-0 at the half, it would have been worse, but Burrow and the Bengals were firing on all cylinders in the 2nd half, with touchdown drives on their first three possessions as part of four consecutive scoring drives. When Evan McPherson nailed a 35-yard game-winning field goal as time expired, Burrow already threw for 348 yards and a pair of scores. It wasn’t a pretty victory, but pulling off the game-winning drive after trailing early is a step towards positive progress. He is averaging 9.2 yards per attempt, 3rd in the NFL among qualified passers, and he is getting better in protection: The Bengals have allowed just one sack in the past two weeks after surrendering 10 in the first two games. He has been playing like a top 10 QB through the first four games and it’s reasonable that Bengals fans would hope he can get better down the stretch. But any celebrations are going to be short-lived, however. The Bengals have to use their mini-bye week to prepare for their biggest test so far this season—a visit from Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. They can’t keep digging themselves into these holes and expect to win every time, but give them credit on finding a way to win. They have the talent to take a step forward, and this win is encouraging for them. We will see how much progress has been made when they face the Packers, but if they keep burrow upright, something special is brewing in Cincy.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Joe Burrow
RB: Joe Mixon
WR: Tyler Boyd, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins
TE: CJ Uzomah
OL: Jonah Williams (LT), Quinton Spain (LG), Trey Hopkins (C), Jackson Carman (RG), Riley Reiff (RT)
DE: Sam Hubbard (LDE), Trey Hendrickson (RDE)
DT: DJ Reader (LDT), Larry Ogunjobi (RDT)
LB: Logan Wilson (LILB), Germaine Pratt (RILB)
CB: Trae Waynes (LCB), Eli Apple (RCB), Mike Hilton (NB)
S: Vonn Bell (SS), Jessie Bates III (FS)
ST: Evan McPherson (K), Kevin Huber (P), Clark Harris (LS)
RS: Brandon Wilson (KR), Darius Phillips (PR)
#13: Carolina Panthers
Week 4 @ DAL: L, 28-36 | Record: 3-1
Previous Rank: #15
The Panthers were one of the more surprising teams in the NFL in the first three weeks, with stellar QB play from Sam Darnold and a stingy defense. However, they took their first loss of the season because of a disaster of a 3rd quarter in Dallas. They were up 14-13 at halftime, but were outscored 20-0 in the 3rd frame of the game. The Cowboys defense kept Sam Darnold off his comfort zone by shifting to a blitz-heavy scheme that led to a long field goal miss, a three-and-out, and then back-to-back interceptions by Trevon Diggs. Darnold and the offense tried to fight back in the 4th quarter with two touchdown drives, but the Cowboys ran out the clock with their power running game. The trip to Dallas was both their stiffest test to date and their first game without Christian McCaffrey, who is nursing a hamstring injury. Safe to say, they really need him. The lack of offensive balance wasn’t the only reason the Panthers suffered the first loss. Head coach Matt Rhule said that he wasn’t pleased with any facet. The defense couldn’t generate takeaways or get to Dak Prescott. It was a setback, but Panthers fans should have no reason to panic. The next four opponents have a combined four wins, and only one of their next nine opponents has a winning record: The undefeated Cardinals.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Sam Darnold
RB: Chuba Hubbard
WR: DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, Terrace Marshall Jr.
TE: Tommy Tremble
OL: Trent Scott (LT), Dennis Daley (LG), Matt Paradis (C), John Miller (RG), Taylor Moton (RT)
DE: Brian Burns (LDE), Morgan Fox (RDE)
DT: Derrick Brown (LDT), DaQuan Jones (RDT)
LB: Haason Reddick (WLB), Jermaine Carter Jr. (MLB), Julian Stanford (SLB)
CB: Donte Jackson (LCB), CJ Henderson (RCB)
S: Jeremy Chinn (SS), Sean Chandler (FS)
ST: Zane Gonzalez (K), Joseph Charlton (P), JJ Jansen (LS)
RS: Chuba Hubbard (KR), Alex Erickson (PR)
#12: Las Vegas Raiders
Week 4 @ LAC: L, 14-28 | Record: 3-1
Previous Rank: #12
The Raiders have been slow starters all season, and they once again dug themselves into a hole for the 3rd time in four games. The previous two times, they spotted an opponent a 14-0 lead before coming back to win the game in overtime. This time around, the Raiders spotted the Chargers 21 points before getting on the board in the 3rd quarter. Derek Carr’s touchdown pass to Darren Waller brought them within a touchdown, but because the Chargers are a contender, the fact that the Raiders spotted them 21 points is a recipe for failure. The Bolts pulled away late to grab a share of the AFC West lead. However, losing your first game of the season in the first week of October is hardly the cause for panic, especially for a franchise that hasn’t posted a winning record since 2016. The cause for concern, however, is that the Raiders were soundly beaten in the trenches. They averaged just 3.8 yards per play and had just 13 first downs. They tried to make a 2nd half comeback, but the reality is that they were outplayed from start to finish in every facet. They set season lows in points, total yards, and first downs in the loss. Carr threw for just 196 yards, fewer than half of what he averaged per game in the first three weeks, but was he really all that “shook,” as what Joey Bosa said? He was sacked four times, and there is the possibility that future opponents are going to copy what Brandon Staley’s defense did to disrupt Carr and co. But this may all be a short-lived nightmare as the Chargers will fly to Cleveland, the Broncos to Pittsburgh, and the Chiefs hosting the Bills, while the Raiders are going to have a home date with the Bears, which would, on paper, be the most winnable game in the division in Week 5.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Derek Carr
RB: Josh Jacobs
WR: Henry Ruggs III, Bryan Edwards, Hunter Renfrow
TE: Darren Waller
OL: Kolton Miller (LT), John Simpson (LG), Andre James (C), Jermaine Eluemunor (RG), Alex Leatherwood (RT)
DE: Maxx Crosby (LDE), Yannick Ngakoue (RDE)
DT: Johnathan Hankins (LDT), Quinton Jefferson (RDT)
LB: Cory Littleton (WLB), Denzel Perryman (MLB), KJ Wright (SLB)
CB: Trayvon Mullen Jr. (LCB), Casey Hayward Jr. (RCB)
S: Johnathan Abram (SS), Tre’von Moehrig (FS)
ST: Daniel Carlson (K), AJ Cole III (P), Trent Sieg (LS)
RS: Kenyan Drake (KR), Hunter Renfrow (PR)
#11: Seattle Seahawks
Week 4 @ SF: W, 28-21 | Record: 2-2
Previous Rank: #17
The Seahawks entered the week under pressure after losing two straight games, leaving them at 1-2 and two games behind the NFC West-leading Rams and Cardinals. The win wasn’t pretty, as the Seahawks managed just 234 yards of offense and went three-and-out in their first five possessions, with a net total of –12 yards. The engine for the win, as it has been so many times in the past, was Russell Wilson. While he only passed for 149 yards, he threw two touchdown passes and ran for another, on the way to scoring touchdowns on four of their next five possessions, not including the kneel-down at the end of the 1st half. The Seahawks defense, which was thoroughly outclassed by the Vikings last week, shut down the Niners’ offense in an NFC West showdown. There was some good fortune towards their favor, however. Jimmy Garoppolo exited at halftime with a calf injury, and Robbie Gould was scratched moments before kickoff with a groin issue, but they showed up ready to play and got the job done. After the game, left tackle Duane Brown said to his team, “We don’t lose three in a row around here.” For the record, the Seahawks have not had a three-game losing streak in 10 years. However, things are not going to get easier as they host a Rams team that is looking to get back to the win column after getting humbled by the Cardinals.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Russell Wilson
RB: Alex Collins
WR: DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Freddie Swain
TE: Will Dissly
OL: Duane Brown (LT), Damien Lewis (LG), Kyle Fuller (C), Gabe Jackson (RG), Brandon Shell (RT)
DE: Rasheem Green (LDE), Carlos Dunlap (RDE)
DT: Poona Ford (LDT), Al Woods (RDT)
LB: Jordyn Brooks (WLB), Bobby Wagner (MLB), Benson Mayowa (SLB)
CB: DJ Reed (LCB), Sidney Jones IV (RCB)
S: Jamal Adams (SS), Quandre Diggs (FS)
ST: Jason Myers (K), Michael Dickson (P), Tyler Ott (LS)
RS: DJ Reed (KR), Freddie Swain (PR)
#10: Baltimore Ravens
Week 4 @ DEN: W, 23-7 | Record: 3-1
Previous Rank: #10
The Ravens’ win over the Broncos was more notable for how it ended than what happened in the game. While the game was already out of reach for the Broncos, the Ravens were a few yards short for their 43rd straight game with at least 100 rushing yards, a mark that would have tied an NFL record shared by the Steelers. With the streak in jeopardy, instead of taking a knee, Lamar Jackson took the final snap and scrambled to his left before sliding for a 5-yard gain. John Harbaugh said of the decision to run the ball at the end of the game, “It’s one of those things that as a head coach, you’ve got to be mindful of your team and your players and your coaches and what it means to them. It’s a very, very tough record to accomplish and it’s a long-term record. I’m not going to say it’s more important than winning the game for sure, it’s certainly not. As a head coach, I think you do that for your players and for your coaches and it’s something they’ll have for the rest of their lives.” The decision didn’t sit well with the Broncos, but outside of that, Jackson threw for over 300 yards for just the 2nd time in his career, with Hollywood Brown atoning for his disastrous Week 3 with a diving touchdown catch. The defense took care of everything else, as they allowed just 254 yards of offense. It will take time, but the Ravens find ways to figure it out on the defensive side of the ball. A 5-2 or 6-1 record by the bye week is a possibility for them.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Lamar Jackson
RB: Latavius Murray
WR: Marquise Brown, Sammy Watkins, Devin Duvernay
TE: Mark Andrews
OL: Ronnie Stanley (LT), Ben Powers (LG), Bradley Bozeman (C), Kevin Zeitler (RG), Patrick Mekari (RT)
DL: Justin Madubuike (LDE), Brandon Williams (NT), Calais Campbell (RDE)
EDGE: Tyus Bowser (WLB), Justin Houston (SLB)
ILB: Malik Harrison (LILB), Patrick Queen (RILB)
CB: Anthony Averett (LCB), Marlon Humphrey (RCB)
S: Chuck Clark (SS), DeShon Elliott (FS)
ST: Justin Tucker (K), Sam Koch (P), Nick Moore (LS)
RS: Devin Duvernay
#9: Kansas City Chiefs
Week 4 @ PHI: W, 42-30 | Record: 2-2
Previous Rank: #8
The Chiefs still have problems. The defense could not even stop the Eagles offense, as they allowed 461 yards of total offense and 30 first downs. They didn’t even force a single punt. That is worrisome. Yet they have Patrick Mahomes and the genius offensive mind of Andy Reid to cover all of this up. They moved the ball at will against the Eagles, with Patrick Mahomes throwing for 278 yards and five touchdown passes, the first of which was an underhand toss to Clyde Edwards-Helaire and the last one a 44-yard deep shot to Tyreek Hill. Mahomes remained his brilliant self, averaging 9.3 yards per attempt, and Hill caught 11 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns. They found success on the ground game as well, with Edwards-Helaire racking up 102 yards on 14 carries. They had seven possessions in this game, with only one of them ending in an interception. After the game, Reid received a commemorative game ball for becoming the first head coach in NFL history to win 100 games with two different teams. However, those defensive struggles are very concerning and a Sunday Night match against the Bills is their biggest test to see if they will be the AFC front-runner once again.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Patrick Mahomes II
RB: Clyde Edwards-Helaire
WR: Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson
TE: Travis Kelce
OL: Orlando Brown Jr. (LT), Joe Thuney (LG), Creed Humphrey (C), Trey Smith (RG), Lucas Niang (RT)
DE: Chris Jones (LDE), Frank Clark (RDE)
DT: Jarran Reed (LDT), Derrick Nnadi (RDT)
LB: Nick Bolton (LILB), Anthony Hitchens (RILB)
CB: Charvarius Ward (LCB), L’Jarius Sneed (RCB), Mike Hughes (NB)
S: Tyrann Mathieu (SS), Daniel Sorensen (FS)
ST: Harrison Butker (K), Tommy Townsend (P), James Winchester (LS)
RS: Mecole Hardman
#8: Dallas Cowboys
Week 4 vs. CAR: W, 36-28 | Record: 3-1
Previous Rank: #11
The Cowboys are on fire offensively. Playing the no. 1 ranked defense entering Week 4, the Cowboys picked apart and torched that defense for 433 yards and 36 points. They even averaged 7.7 yards per play. This offense is basically “pick your poison.” Try and defend against Dak Prescott and the air attack, and Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard will run you over on the ground—Elliott had 20 rushes for 143 yards. Load up the box to stuff the run, and Prescott will carve up the secondary—Prescott came up short of 200 passing yards but still had four touchdown passes. As good as the Cowboys offense has played, what is the most impressive facet of the Cowboys is how well they played on defense, especially with youngsters Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs. When Parsons made the switch to edge rusher, he was remarkable. He added yet another sack as he carries the pass rush, and given how well he is doing, he could have the Defensive Rookie of the Year award locked up by the halfway point of the season. Diggs picked off Sam Darnold twice and is now at five interceptions on the year, having recorded an interception in every game of the first four games of the season. Those two picks helped produce 10 Cowboys points. The presence of the two playmakers has been essential to them. They are making life far more difficult than they did at any point of last season. No Jaylon Smith? No problem.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Dak Prescott
RB: Ezekiel Elliott
WR: Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, Cedrick Wilson
TE: Dalton Schultz
OL: Tyron Smith (LT), Connor Williams (LG), Tyler Biadasz (C), Zack Martin (RG), Terence Steele (RT)
DE: Randy Gregory (LDE), Micah Parsons (RDE)
DT: Osa Odighizuwa (LDT), Carlos Watkins (RDT)
LB: Leighton Vander Esch (WLB), Keanu Neal (MLB), Jabril Cox (SLB)
CB: Anthony Brown (LCB), Trevon Diggs (RCB)
S: Donovan Wilson (SS), Damontae Kazee (FS)
ST: Greg Zuerlein (K), Bryan Anger (P), Jake McQuaide (LS)
RS: Tony Pollard (KR), CeeDee Lamb (PR)
#7: Cleveland Browns
Week 4 @ MIN: W, 14-7 | Record: 3-1
Previous Rank: #5
Through the first two weeks of the 2021 season, the Browns were all about the offense. But in the past two weeks, it was all about the defense. Week 3 felt like a mismatch of personnel and scheme that it was hard to see any signs of progress. Going into a hostile environment in Minneapolis in Week 4, the defense keyed the Browns’ 3rd win of the season. Playing against a hot Vikings offense coming off an impressive win against the Seahawks, the only touchdown the Browns allowed was on the Vikings’ opening drive. After that, the defense dictated the pace of the game, allowing just 255 yards of total offense, giving up just 65 rushing yards to Dalvin Cook, who averaged less than 3 yards per carry. All the Browns need is balance. Baker Mayfield completed less than half of his passes (15 of 33, 155 yds) in one of his worst performances. He has always been a hard QB to figure out, but he was a non-factor in this game. However, the rushing attack continued to dominate, with the duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt combining for 169 yards on 35 carries. With the ground game and the defense playing at a high level, the Browns can beat anyone. But Mayfield is going to have to up his game against the Chargers if the Browns are to be true contenders. However, this is risky given that Mayfield plans to play through a partially torn labrum on his left shoulder that he suffered during the Browns’ Week 2 win over the Texans.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Baker Mayfield
RB: Nick Chubb
WR: Odell Beckham Jr., Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones
TE: Austin Hooper
OL: Jedrick Wills Jr. (LT), Joel Bitonio (LG), JC Tretter (C), Wyatt Teller (RG), Jack Conklin (RT)
DE: Myles Garrett (LDE), Jadeveon Clowney (RDE)
DT: Malik Jackson (LDT), Malik McDowell (RDT)
LB: Mack Wilson (WLB), Malcolm Smith (MLB), Sione Takitaki (SLB)
CB: Denzel Ward (LCB), Greedy Williams (RCB)
S: Ronnie Harrison Jr. (SS), John Johnson III (FS)
ST: Chase McLaughlin (K), Jamie Gillan (P), Charley Hughlett (LS)
RS: D’Ernest Johnson (KR), Donovan Peoples-Jones (PR)
#6: Los Angeles Chargers
Week 4 vs. LV: W, 28-14 | Record: 3-1
Previous Rank: #7
Both LA teams entered Week 4 riding a wave of momentum after a big win in the week before. They both faced a stiff test in Week 4 facing an undefeated division rival. It was the Chargers that won their game. They are now 3-1 for the first time since 2014 and sit at a three-way tie for the division crown in the AFC West. It was a big team effort, whether it be Justin Herbert (25 of 38, 222 yards, 3 touchdowns) being accurate with the ball or Austin Ekeler (145 total yards, 2 touchdowns) torching the Raiders defense or Joey Bosa’s pass rush and Derwin James’ coverage on defense. The Chargers offense had 380 total yards of offense while holding the Raiders to 213, their lowest output of the season so far. You can’t deny that Brandon Staley has the Chargers playing at a high level, and Herbert is playing as well as any other QB in the league. They are a legitimate Super Bowl contender, and even Jon Gruden praised them, “They’re going to go places this year. They’re going to be a force to be dealt with.” The only thing that’s missing is for SoFi Stadium to be filled with Chargers fans during their home games.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Justin Herbert
RB: Austin Ekeler
WR: Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Jalen Guyton
TE: Jared Cook
OL: Rashawn Slater (LT), Matt Feiler (LG), Corey Linsley (C), Oday Aboushi (RG), Storm Norton (RT)
DL: Jerry Tillery (LDL), Christian Covington (RDL)
EDGE: Joey Bosa (WLB), Uchenna Nwosu (SLB)
ILB: Drue Tranquill (LILB), Kyzir White (RILB)
CB: Chris Harris Jr. (LCB), Michael Davis (RCB), Asante Samuel Jr. (NB)
S: Derwin James Jr. (SS), Nasir Adderley (FS)
ST: Tristan Vizcaino (K), Ty Long (P), Matt Overton (LS)
RS: Nasir Adderley (KR), KJ Hill (PR)
#5: Green Bay Packers
Week 4 vs. PIT: W, 27-17 | Record: 3-1
Previous Rank: #6
All those worries about the Packers back in Week 1 may all have been overreactions. After dispatching the Steelers in Week 4, handing Ben Roethlisberger his first loss in games where he faces the first NFC opponent on the Steelers’ schedule AND where Venom appears in movie theaters, the Packers are back to looking like the NFC North favorites. Aaron Rodgers threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns, the two-headed rushing attack of Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon combined for 129 yards, and the defense held the Steelers to 282 total yards and snagged a pair of turnovers. The game even featured a big contribution from Randall Cobb, the veteran wideout that Rodgers singlehandedly convinced the front office to bring back during the Packers’ offseason drama. While he was a non-factor in the first three games, he had five receptions for 69 yards and two touchdowns against the Steelers. This win looks as complete as it was businesslike, impressing Matt LaFleur. They are now averaging 30 points per game during their three-game winning streak, and they even tagged Taylor Swift on their Instagram page to boast about Rodgers’ rushing touchdowns. While people are wondering what this could mean, Jaire Alexander suffered a shoulder injury ahead of the Packers’ Week 5 match, which, in spite of the Packers rolling and playing as well as any other NFC team, is concerning, even though they signed Jaylon Smith.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Aaron Rodgers
RB: Aaron Jones
WR: Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb
TE: Robert Tonyan
OL: Elgton Jenkins (LT), Jon Runyan (LG), Josh Myers (C), Royce Newman (RG), Billy Turner (RT)
DL: Dean Lowry (LDE), Kenny Clark (NT), Kingsley Keke (RDE)
EDGE: Preston Smith (WLB), Rashan Gary (SLB)
ILB: De’Vondre Campbell (LILB), Jaylon Smith (RILB)
CB: Chandon Sullivan (LCB), Kevin King (RCB)
S: Adrian Amos (SS), Darnell Savage Jr. (FS)
ST: Mason Crosby (K), Corey Bojorquez (P), Hunter Bradley (LS)
RS: Kylin Hill (KR), Amari Rodgers (PR)
#4: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 4 @ NE: W, 19-17 | Record: 3-1
Previous Rank: #2
No game was more hyped up than Tom Brady’s return to Gillette Stadium. The fact that Tom Brady and the Buccaneers got the win is not surprising. What is surprising, however, is the fact that they won by just two points. While Tampa got a generous supply of Brady magic, they got some luck towards their favor, as Nick Folk’s go-ahead field goal try from 56 yards out hit the left upright to secure Tampa’s win. Brady didn’t throw a touchdown pass in his return to Foxborough, while Mac Jones, his true successor, completed 19 consecutive passes at one point. But Brady led the Bucs to the go-ahead field goal, then watch Belichick’s gamble on Folk not pay off. And even if this is another one of Brady’s big wins, the Bucs have causes for concern. While the offensive concerns are more to do with the rainy weather in the game, the secondary has major issues. The defensive backfield became so thin after the losses of Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean to the point where they brought in Richard Sherman. Now they are going to be without no. 1 corner Carlton Davis as he was carted to the locker room with a quad injury during the game. It’s not helping that Antoine Winfield Jr. is considered doubtful for their match against the Dolphins. The defense finished last season 5th in DVOA, but they rank 19th this season. It didn’t cost them in their game against the Pats, and it shouldn’t, based on their upcoming schedule, but the injuries are piling up and are hitting the roster hard.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Tom Brady
RB: Leonard Fournette
WR: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown
TE: Cameron Brate
OL: Donovan Smith (LT), Ali Marpet (LG), Ryan Jensen (C), Alex Cappa (RG), Tristan Wirfs (RT)
DL: Ndamukong Suh (LDE), Vita Vea (NT), William Gholston (RDE)
EDGE: Jason Pierre-Paul (WLB), Shaquil Barrett (SLB)
ILB: Devin White (LILB), Lavonte David (RILB)
CB: Ross Cockrell (LCB), Richard Sherman (RCB)
S: Andrew Adams (SS), Jordan Whitehead (FS)
ST: Ryan Succop (K), Bradley Pinion (P), Zach Triner (LS)
RS: Jaydon Mickens
#3: Buffalo Bills
Week 4 vs. HOU: W, 40-0 | Record: 3-1
Previous Rank: #4
The Bills are on a roll. Ever since the Week 1 loss to the Steelers, the Bills have pulled off three straight blowout wins where they have scored at least 35 points in those victories. Two of those three games came in shutouts—the wins over the Dolphins and Texans in Weeks 2 and 4, respectively. They have outscored their last three opponents by a combined 118-21 as well. In defense of the Texans, however, the Texans are possibly the most talent-deficient team in the league. The Bills weren’t all that great in the red zone either, as they had just three touchdowns on seven trips. But they had 450 total yards of offense, allowing 109, forcing five Texans turnovers, four of those coming on interceptions from Davis Mills, and had three sacks. The Texans are nowhere close to the level the Bills are at, but great teams flex their muscles against the league’s also-rans, which is what we saw here. They are rolling on all cylinders, but the Bills’ Week 5 Sunday Night matchup will raise the difficulty level a tad, as they will draw a rematch of last season’s AFC Championship game, and what could be a preview of this season’s AFC Championship game. They will hope that Matt Milano is available for the game, as he exited the Week 4 match with a hamstring injury, but they still have a good shot at beating the Chiefs.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Josh Allen
RB: Devin Singletary
WR: Emmanuel Sanders, Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley
TE: Dawson Knox
OL: Dion Dawkins (LT), Jon Feliciano (LG), Mitch Morse (C), Daryl Williams (RG), Spencer Brown (RT)
DE: Gregory Rousseau (LDE), Jerry Hughes (RDE)
DT: Star Lotulelei (LDT), Ed Oliver (RDT)
LB: Tremaine Edmunds (LILB), AJ Klein (RILB)
CB: Tre’Davious White (LCB), Levi Wallace (RCB), Taron Johnson (NB)
S: Jordan Poyer (SS), Micah Hyde (FS)
ST: Tyler Bass (K), Matt Haack (P), Reid Ferguson (LS)
RS: Isaiah McKenzie
#2: Los Angeles Rams
Week 4 vs. ARZ: L, 20-37 | Record: 3-1
Previous Rank: #1
Life comes at you fast. The Rams’ tenure as the top team in the league lasted just one week. After beating Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in Week 3, their second big showdown at SoFi Stadium ended on a much different note. And not in the one they wanted. While they had over 400 yards of offense against the Cardinals, they stalled out in big situations and turned the ball over twice. The defense was a major letdown as well, as they allowed a whopping 465 yards of offense and let the Cardinals convert 8 of 13 3rd downs. That once-reliable defense has now surrendered 911 yards and 61 points in the last two weeks. The Rams also had two turnovers—a Matt Stafford interception and a Sony Michel fumble in the red zone—where both turned into Cardinals touchdowns, while Stafford and the receiving core struggled to set the tone of the game. Granted, the Cardinals have the league MVP frontrunner, so a letdown was warranted. But to that degree? Ouch. However, it’s just one week, and the Rams still remain as a Super Bowl contender. But they have a short-week matchup on the road against the Seahawks up next, so they will need to turn things around ahead of their Thursday Night matchup in the toughest division in the NFL.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Matt Stafford
RB: Darrell Henderson Jr.
WR: Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Robert Woods
TE: Tyler Higbee
OL: Andrew Whitworth (LT), David Edwards (LG), Brian Allen (C), Austin Corbett (RG), Rob Havenstein (RT)
DL: A’Shawn Robinson (LDE), Sebastian Joseph-Day (NT), Aaron Donald (RDE)
EDGE: Terrell Lewis (WLB), Leonard Floyd (SLB)
ILB: Kenny Young (LILB), Troy Reeder (RILB)
CB: Darious Williams (LCB), Jalen Ramsey (RCB)
S: Jordan Fuller (SS), Taylor Rapp (FS)
ST: Matt Gay (K), Johnny Hekker (P), Matt Orzech (LS)
RS: Tutu Atwell (KR), Cooper Kupp (PR)
#1: Arizona Cardinals
Week 4 @ LAR: W, 37-20 | Record: 4-0
Previous Rank: #3
That was a certified statement win by the Cardinals. They went to LA and took down a Rams team that spent the first three weeks of the season being a hyped-up Super Bowl favorite. It’s hard to argue that this win over the Rams wasn’t the biggest win for them in some time. They dominated on both sides of the ball, with Kyler Murray topping 300 total yards without a turnover. Chase Edmonds had 120 rushing yards and averaged a whopping 10 yards per carry. They had their way with the Rams elite defense, while the Cardinals defense limited a Rams offense that had been playing as good as any other team to 401 total yards, keeping Matt Stafford and the air attack off-sync all game long. This win was the first for the Cardinals in nine games against Sean McVay’s Rams. They are the last undefeated team in the NFL, but we will see if they keep rolling as they enter a tough stretch on their schedule, but there hasn’t been a more impressive and exciting team to watch than the Cardinals. They are an explosive and talented team and are playing at levels that would make Kurt Warner proud.
Week 5 Projected Starters
QB: Kyler Murray
RB: James Conner
WR: DeAndre Hopkins, AJ Green, Christian Kirk
TE: Maxx Williams
OL: DJ Humphries (LT), Justin Pugh (LG), Rodney Hudson (C), Josh Jones (RG), Kelvin Beachum (RT)
DL: Zach Allen (LDE), Rashard Lawrence (NT), JJ Watt (RDE)
EDGE: Chandler Jones (WLB), Markus Golden (SLB)
ILB: Jordan Hicks (LILB), Isaiah Simmons (RILB)
CB: Byron Murphy Jr. (LCB), Robert Alford (RCB)
S: Jalen Thompson (SS), Budda Baker (FS)
ST: Matt Prater (K), Andy Lee (P), Aaron Brewer (LS)
RS: Eno Benjamin (KR), Christian Kirk (PR)
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